I ended up working late (yay, overtime pay!!) and came home to a piping hot bowl of soup that’s been stewing in the crock pot all day and a super huge plate steamed veggies.

Yep, that’s cabbage soup. I’m doing the cabbage soup diet this week. I realize it’s a little bit radical and I almost wasn’t going to tell you that I was doing it because you don’t have to look very far to see that it is subject to a great deal of criticism, but I want to tell you why I am doing it.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a Registered Dietitian (RD). For specific medical counseling, please contact a RD or your doctor. This post is based on my own personal knowledge, experience, and opinions.

The CSD is a 7 day diet/cleanse that has a strict list of what to eat each day for a week, with the cabbage soup being the main item. It is also considered a “fad diet” because of the rapid weight loss due to the low caloric intake. Some days, you can only eat fruit, some days just veggies (the veggie day lets you have a buttered baked potato), one day is milk and bananas, another day has chicken or steak…

I HATE HATE HATE (very strong word choice, I know, but it is appropriate for how I feel) the word ‘diet.’ I believe you should never be on a diet, but instead adopt a healthy lifestyle and stick to it. I strongly believe in continuous healthy living and eating habits. It’s okay to splurge every now and then, but there may be consequences later that you will need to deal with. I have my reasons for doing the CSD and why it works for me (in no particular order, this is just the way my brain is organized today):

My number one reason: It reminds me how tastyfresh fruits and vegetables are and when the diet is over, I actually crave them. It’s also a great way to get back into a habit of drinking more water. I know the diet is low in nutrients, but I actually feel healthier when it’s over. It’s kind of like a wake-up call.

“Hey, you!! Yeah, you! Remember me?…Broccoli? I miss you!”

I gain more self control to resist the temptation to eat the entire bag of gingerbread marshmallows that’s in my cupboard.

It’s a seven day challenge. I can do anything for seven days.

You get to eat AS MUCH AS YOU WANT of what’s on the menu for that day. I honestly pig out and am never hungry.

Because the calories on the plan are almost dangerously low, I don’t exercise. I love my workouts, but it’s kind of nice to take a break for a few days.

Here is what the CSD is not:

The solution for long term weight loss.

Yes, you’re going to lose some weight on this diet, but it’s mostly water weight, not fat, and you’ll most likely end up gaining it right back (that’s the yo-yo effect that you get when you do fad diets) when it’s over. I don’t do this for the weight loss, I do it to cleanse my system. I look at it as a refresher course on making healthier food choices. I’m generally a very healthy eater, but we all fall off the bandwagon at some point in time. This is just how I pick myself back up.

If you’re looking to lose a significant amount of weight (more than 10 pounds) and keep it off, the CSD is not for you. You deserve long-term results. You will be much better off changing the way you eat, increasing your activity, and focusing on how you relate mentally and physically to food as fuel.

Okay, anyway, that’s that. 🙂 I’m off to watch a movie and welcome the much needed weekend!

Welcome

Hi, I'm Emily. Welcome to the Adventures of A&E! I am a military wife, mama to Owen & Della, photographer, self-proclaimed shopaholic, and food aficionado. This blog documents our adventures in travel, healthy living, fashion, food, family and friends as we strive to find a balance in our busy and ever-changing lives. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…